The ETIAS and EES systems are both scheduled to begin in 2024 for European travel.
For years, non-E.U. travelers have been told that Europe is changing its entry rules. Well, now it seems to finally be happening.
When the implementation of the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) was first announced in 2019, many panicked and incorrectly misinterpreted “travel authorization” as a visa—but it’s not. And it’s nothing to worry about. Basically, all it means is that travelers from visa-exempt countries, which includes the United States, only need a travel authorization to enter 30 European countries. And you can easily get the authorization online for a minimal fee.
This change was scheduled to begin in 2021, then 2022, then November 2023–and now it has been pushed back to 2024.
Meanwhile, another border control scheme, the Entry/Exit System (EES), is also coming into effect next year in Europe, where travelers will be asked to share their biometrics when entering or exiting European countries.
So, what does all of this mean for you?
Related: Moving to Europe Is Going to Get Way More Expensive
What Is ETIAS?
More than one billion people from over 60 visa-exempt countries—including the U.S. and the U.K.—traveling to Europe will need to apply for ETIAS, the European Travel Information and Authorization System. The authorization is valid for up to three years for multiple entries up to 90 days in a 180-day period. Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Norway, Spain, and Switzerland are among the 30 E.U. nations this applies to.
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To get an ETIAS authorization, you need to fill an application either on the website or the app. It costs 7 euros (around $7.80) and most applications will be processed in minutes. Some may take up to 30 days if additional documentation is required, so travelers are advised to apply in advance—before booking flights and tickets. If your passport expires, you’ll need to get it again because it corresponds to your passport details.
There are some exceptions–for example, people under 18 and over 70 don’t need this travel authorization. But this authorization doesn’t guarantee entry into the bloc—you will still go through border control. You can get more details here.
The U.S. has a similar system called ESTA. There are 40 countries that are under its visa-waiver program and citizens of these countries can fill an online application and pay the fee of $21 for ESTA approval. Once approved, it is valid for two years for multiple entries and stays up to 90 days.
What is EES?
EES stands for Entry/Exit System. It’s an automated system for non-E.U. travelers traveling for a short stay to one of the participating 29 countries. Travelers with a short-stay visa or those who don’t need a visa will be required to give their biometrics.
Your name, date of birth, passport details, date and place of entry and exit, your facial image and fingerprints entry will be recorded. Any refusals of entry will also be kept in the database. The website explains that the EES replaces passport stamping and it automates border control procedures.
“The EES also makes it easier to identify travelers who have no right to enter or who have stayed in European countries using the EES for too long. It makes it easier to detect travelers using fake identities or passports. Finally, the EES helps to prevent, detect and investigate terrorist offences or other serious criminal offences.”
The data will be shared among European countries, and those who overstay in the region may be fined, deported, or banned from re-entering. You can learn more about EES here.
EES is not in effect right now and it’s possibly going to be postponed until after the Paris Olympics 2024 conclude in August. France fears that this proposed change at the borders will lead to delays at airports since the process needs new infrastructure. It is also digital-dependent, so glitches at first are expected.
The two border control schemes were supposed to be introduced together, but it is likely that ETIAS will come into effect before EES.
Related: Lawyers Warn: You Can Be Deported if You Do This on a Tourist Visa